We all deal with a little stress now and then. But some of us have been more exposed to what is called “toxic stress” than others.
The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child has identified three kinds of stress:
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Positive stress results from adverse experiences that are short-lived. . . . This type of stress causes minor physiological changes including an increase in heart rate and changes in hormone levels. . . . This type of stress is considered normal and coping with it is an important part of the [human] development process.
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Tolerable stress refers to adverse experiences that are more intense but still relatively short-lived. Examples include the death of a loved one, a natural disaster, a frightening accident, and family disruptions such as separation or divorce. . . . If we lack adequate support, tolerable stress can become toxic and lead to long-term negative health effects.
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Toxic stress results from intense adverse experiences that may be sustained over a long period of time—weeks, months or even years. An example of toxic stress is child maltreatment, which includes abuse and neglect. Children are unable to effectively manage this type of stress by themselves. As a result, the stress response system gets activated for a prolonged amount of time. This can lead to permanent changes in the development of the brain.
When a child experiences toxic stress, we are finding that there are long-lasting effects on that child’s health. San Francisco’s Nadine Burke Harris, MD, talks about the physiological effects and impact on the immune system that can take place when someone is exposed to toxic stress.
Below Dr. Burke Harris is interviewed on KQED Newsroom, a weekly news magazine on public television in San Francisco. Give it a watch – Dr. Burke Harris does a great job explaining the impact of toxic stress and some of the things we can do to “heal the effects of toxic stress.” And to learn more, visit this KQED blog post on the impact of toxic stress on children and Dr. Burke Harris’ work.
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